A familiar face is hoping to return to MLB before the 2027 season. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, Boston Red Sox legend and franchise Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez is seeking an MLB hitting coaching job.
Ramirez has coveted a coaching job in MLB for over a year. The former slugging outfielder worked as a player/coach with the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League from 2020-21, but he never appeared in a game for them due to an injury and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Heyman, Ramirez would take a coaching job in the minor leagues to get back in the game.
There was a small chance that the Red Sox would be in the market for a new hitting coach following the 2026 season — the staff Chad Tracy brought with him in the wake of Alex Cora's April firing all came from the minor leagues. But in an appearance on NESN's "310 to Left" podcast, Tracy said the Red Sox aren't anticipating "major changes," though he said there were still conversations to be had.
Ramirez is still active in the cages, frequently posting videos of his hitting sessions on social media — possibly as auditions for a hitting coaching position (as if he would need them). In many of those videos, to Red Sox fans' chagrin, he's worn a New York Yankees hat in a few of them.
As Red Sox legend Manny Ramirez seeks an MLB hitting coaching job, he posts videos hitting in a Yankees hat
Ramirez spent part of his childhood growing up in Washington Heights, New York City near the Bronx. However, he grew up a Toronto Blue Jays fan because they had some Dominican players on their roster, whom Ramirez admired. Unfortunately for Red Sox Nation, that makes his Yankees hat wearing feel more like a plea to the organization.
Ramirez was one of the best hitters of his day, with a career .312/.411/.585 slash line and 555 home runs over 2302 games across parts of 19 seasons. He mentored some impressive hitters while he was a player, including fellow Red Sox icon David Ortiz.
While Ramirez definitely has plenty of insight into hitting that he can offer, he has no coaching experience in MLB. The Yankees aren't in need of a new hitting coach beause James Rowson's job is safe after last season. Even if they did need a new offensive leader, this would be a strange time to hire someone with no coaching experience. The Yankees are always competitive, but they could be in the last few years of their competitive window with Aaron Judge, and if they want to win him a ring, they need an offense that can support him.
Ramirez also has a history of strange behavior in the clubhouse and a "lone wolf" kind of attitude. "Manny being Manny" might not help create a united front on the coaching staff or with the front office.
Maybe a major league club will finally take Ramirez up on his hitting coach pitch before the 2027 season, but it probably won't be the Red Sox or Yankees.
Add us as a preferred source on Google